The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-26
THE OUMMINsVILLE DISCUSSION.


miDsville, the twenty-ffth ward of Gin
cinnati. The Masonic Hall was en-
gagged, and Rev. E. F. Pember preach
ed on Sunday afternoons during De-
cember. This was followed by a course
of five doctrinal sermons on the Mon
day evenings of January.
While these were in progress, Mr..
Pember received a challenge from FL
der w. J. Howe (Campbellite) to hold
debate. The challenge was promptly
accepted, and arrangements made for
the debate to take place in the Masonic
Hall, at Cumminsville, on Monday even
ing, Feb. %, and continuing until the
following Thursday. Messrs. Keene,
Hubbard and Williamson served as
moderators.
The first two evenings Elder Howe
affirmed the proposition Resolved,
that the Bible teaches that part Of
mankind will suffer endless punish
ment." His previous experience in de-
bate with such men as Carlton, Curry,
Crosley, Mclean, Ballard and others Of
our church, made him somewhat eau
tious in the opening definition Of his
position. He admitted that "all who
die in infancy will be saved, that all
Christians will be saved" and that if
he could only prove the endless punish
ment of one he would sustain his prop
osition. His line of argument was the
same as presented in his previous de-
bates.
First, he proposed to prove ''the re-
surrection of our mortal bodies" Fail
ing in this he admitted that he did not
mean these physical bodies, but body;
it might be spiritual body. Second,
he claimed future coming of Christ
in power and glory to judge mankind.
Third, a day of general judgment at
the time of Christ's coming. Fourth,
final separation, and the endless pun
ishment of part of the human family
The usual texts were quoted in de-
Tense of these propositions, which were
easily answered by reference to the
| context. Mr.. Howe INDUCED in large
amount of misrepresentation of Uni
versalism, and resorted to all possible
triekery in debate in his desperation to
defend the dying dogma of endless
punishment.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings
Mr.. Pember affirmed, THAT the Bible
teaches that all mankind will be finally
holy and endlessly happy" His argu-
ment was founded, first, upon the ma
ture, character and attributes Of God.
The fact of the Brotherhood of God"
and the implied provision and protec-
tion for his children was also empha-
sized. Second, from the Bible teachings
concerning the character and mission
of Christ. Third, the three parallels
in Luke XIV. Fourth, the teaching of
st. Paul in the fifth chapter Romans.
Il
as taught in Matt. xxi. %, 33; Mark
xii. "a, 81; Luke Xxx. 81, 38 and / Cor
inthians XIV. Sixth, from the object
and efficacy of Christian prayer. These
arguments were all supported by abund-
ant quotations from the Bible, and all
that was left for Mr.. Howe, was to
make assertions without evidence, and
admissions that were fatal to his own
argument of the first two nights. Ac-
cordingly in his argument he made gem
erous use of the text containing the
words ''all'' and ''every" to prove a uni
versal resurrection, and universal gath
ering at the day Of judgment; but in his
effort to dispose of the same words
when used in connection with salvation
he asserted s'that the word oU, no
where in the Bible included the human
race as mathematical WHOLE" forget
ting that it killed his entire argument
He denied that God was the Father of |
mankind, in any other sense than as a
Creator, ''the same as he is of snakes |
and toads' He boldly asserted that |
he never prayed for the salvation of all |
men.
The discussion was well attended, |
and there is good reason to believe, that
in this, as in other discussions, our
faith has gained by comparison with
orthodoxy. A deeper interest is felt in
sustaining Universalist services. Mr..
Pember preached there Tuesday even
ing, the 18th, and he was engaged to
give another course of doctrinal SER
mons on Monday evenings, commen-
cling March 2sth, and continuing through
April. If the work can be continued the
prospects are bright for the early organ
ization of a society, and the permanent
establishment Of our church in this
growing suburb of Cincinnati.
"A Virginia Baptist church recently
called a nastOr with huf ona dieeanfino